The Nigerian Army on Thursday formally retired 18 senior officers of the Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport after 35 years of service to the nation.
The officers were honoured during a colourful pulling-out parade held in Benin City, Edo State, marking the end of their military careers and the conclusion of a three-day conference organised by the corps.
The conference was themed “Optimising Supply and Transport Capabilities Towards Providing Effective Service Delivery to Nigerian Army Operations in All Missions.”
Speaking at the ceremony, the Corps Commander of the Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport, Maj.-Gen. Danjuma Shagaya, said the retired officers included four Major Generals and 14 Brigadier Generals.
Shagaya commended the officers for their dedication and commitment to the Nigerian Army throughout their careers, noting that they served the country faithfully from the time of their commissioning until retirement.
He described the event as both a celebration and a recognition of the officers’ contributions to the growth and operational effectiveness of the corps.
“It is a joyous moment for the Corps of Supply and Transport, as current and former Corps Commanders are present to honour and celebrate these distinguished officers,” he said.
According to him, the pulling-out parade is a longstanding military tradition that provides an opportunity for the Army to celebrate years of service, sacrifice and professionalism displayed by retiring officers.
Shagaya also appreciated the Chief of Army Staff for recognising the sacrifices of the officers and for sending a representative to the ceremony.
Speaking on behalf of the retirees, Maj.-Gen. Olaniyi Dare said their military careers spanned several decades during which they served in different operational, command and staff capacities across the Nigerian Army.
He noted that the Corps of Supply and Transport plays a vital role in ensuring the effectiveness of military operations by providing essential logistics and transport support to troops.
“We were entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that soldiers deployed across various theatres of operation are adequately sustained,” Dare said.
He added that whether during training exercises, peace support missions or internal security operations within and outside Nigeria, the corps remained committed to delivering reliable and efficient logistics support to the Army.
“As we transition into retirement, we recognise that while we may be leaving active service, our commitment to the ideals and values of the Nigerian Army remains steadfast,” he said.
Dare assured that the retired officers would continue to serve as ambassadors of the corps and would always be willing to share their experience and expertise whenever called upon.
He described the ceremony as symbolic, saying it provided an opportunity for reflection on decades of dedication, sacrifice and commitment to national defence.
The retired general also paid tribute to the families of the officers, acknowledging the sacrifices they made throughout their years of military service.
“Military life often demands long separations, personal sacrifices and constant movement. The understanding, patience and encouragement of our families made it possible for us to fulfil our duties with dedication,” he said.
The ceremony attracted senior military officers, serving and retired personnel, as well as families and well-wishers who gathered to celebrate the retiring officers’ contributions to the Nigerian Army.
(NAN)